Wedge-block breech mechanism.



M. HERMSDORF.

WEDGE BLOCK BREEGH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 2, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patentd Sept. 9,

M. HERMSDORF.

WEDGE BLOCK BREEGH MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1911.

l 1372,45 6 Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEBTSSBEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX HERMSDORF, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-BUHB, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

WEDGE-BLOCK BREECH MECHANISM.

Application filed December 2, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAX HERMsooRF, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Essen-on-the-Ruhr, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in iVedge-Block Breech Mechanisms, of which the following is a specifi cation.

The present invention relates to breech mechanisms for guns, particularly to such mechanisms that have a wedge block operated by a cam lever that, in opening the mechanism, cocks the firing lock by means of a cocking member, and the invention resides principally therein, that said cocking member constitutes a pivot for a lever that is adapted to cock the firing lock on misfire.

One embodiment of the invention is represented on the drawing in a gun with a horizontal wedge block, and Figure 1 shows a horizontal length section of the breech end of the gun barrel with the wedge block in full lines and in the closed position of the mechanism and with pulled off firing lock. Fig. 2 a horizontal section of the wedge block in the same position as in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a rear view of the breech and the wedge block partly in section with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1; Fig. 4c a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 1, but with the wedge mechanism partly open; Fig. 5 also a similar view to Fig. 1 but with the mechanism represented in almost closed position; Fig. 6 a section on line 6-6 of Fig. at and Fig. 7 a horizontal section of the breech and wedge block with the firing lock cocked.

The wedge block B guided in the breech end A of the gun barrel is adapted to be moved by means of the cam lever 0, Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. This cam lever is pivoted in the breech end A and provided with a heart shaped cam lug c engaging a cam roove b in the upper face of the wedge lock B. lVithin the wedge block B is mounted a firing pin D actuated by a firing spring E and a two armed cocking lever F by means of which the firing pin will be transferred from the pulled off position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, into the cocked position represented in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. A pawl G adapted to retain the firing pin in its cocked position is firmly connected with the trigger bolt H, see Figs. 6 and 7, rotatively carried in the wedge block and provid d with a trigger H When the firing pin is in the cooked position, the pawl Gr engages by means of a tooth 9 a cut (Z provided on the firing pin, see Fig. 6. The firing spring E rests at one end against the bottom of the counter bore of the firing pin D and with its other end against an arm 9 see Fig. 6 of the pawl G.

- with the said finger 70 toward the end of the closing movement of the cam lever. The bolt K is vertically mounted in the wedge block B and is provided at its lower end with the flat out k one edge is of which is constructed to cooperate with a beveled face 7 of the cocking lever F in the direction of the cooking of the firing pin, when the bolt K is turned in the opposite direction to the hands of the clock from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

On a pivot 75* provided at the lower end of the bolt K, see Figs. 3 and.7, a lever B is mounted. This lever is provided with a toe 1' Fig. 7, which also is adapted to cooperate with the bevel face f of the cocking lever F and to cause the cooking of the firing pin when the lever B is turned from the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 a and 5 into the position shown in Fig. l. A. helical spring M, Figs. 2 and 7, inserted with initial tension between the toe f of the cocking lever F on one side and by means of a plunger m bears against the toe r of the lever B on the other side. The spring M endeavors to hold the cooking lever F and the lever B in the position corresponding to the uncooked position of the firing lock, illustrated in Fig. 2.

A filling piece N, see Fig. 3, is inserted in a rectangular recess 5 of the wedge block B having a shape closely adhering to that of the recess 6 The filling piece N is held in place by means of the pivot 70 of the bolt K which reaches through a hole in the filling piece into the lower wall of the recess 6 On a pivot pin 71. situated on top of the filling piece N the cocking lever F is mounted. The spring M and the pin a are carried in a housing a which is in one piece with the filling piece N.

When the breech mechanism is opened, the firing lock is transferred into the cocked po sition by means of the bolt K, in which po sition it is retained by the pawl G, Figs. a and 6. When the mechanism is closed again the wall of the recess a strikes against the finger 70 toward the end ofthe closing movement, so that during the last partof the closing movement of the cam lever, the bolt K will be returned into its initial position. The cocking lever F also returns, actuated by the spring M into its initial position.

To fire the gun, the trigger H is pulled, whereby the toe g of the pawl G retires out of engagement with the cut al of the firing pin D.

In case of misfire, the lever B is brought out from its normal osition into the position shown in Fig. The toe of the lever B slides then along the bevel face f of the cooking lever F, so that hereby the firing lock is recocked and may be pulled off again. After the cooking of the firing lock the cocking lever F and the lever It return to their original positions under the action of the spring M.

I claim 1. In a wedge block mechanism for guns, the combination with an operating lever and a firing lock; of a cooking arm for saidfiring look; a cocking bolt revolved by the opening of the mechanism and actuating said cocking arm; a hand lever, rotatably mounted on said cocking bolt and adapted to cooperate with said arm for cooking the firing lock.

2. In a wedge block mechanism for guns, the combination with an operating lever and a firing lock; of a cocking arm for said firing lock; a cooking bolt revolved by the opening of the mechanism and actuating said cocking arm; a detachable seat, locked in position by means of said cocking bolt; a pivot pin on said seat; said cocking arm being mounted to oscillate around said pivot pin.

3. In a wedge block mechanism for guns, the combination with an operating lever and a firing lock; of a cocking arm for said firing look; a cocking bolt revolved by the opening of the mechanism and actuating said cocking arm; a hand lever, rotatably mounted on said cocking bolt and adapted to cooperate with said arm for cooking the firing on said cocking bolt and adapted to cooperate with said arm for cocking the firing lock, means for holding said hand lever and said cocking arm in their normal positions comprising a toe on said hand lever, a finger on said cocking arm, a spring and a spring plunger; a detachable scat, locked in position by means of said cocking bolt; a pivot pin on said seat, said cocking arm being mounted to oscillate around said pivot pin.

The foregoing specification signed at Barmen, Germany, this 11th day of November,

MAX HERMSDORF. [1 s.] In presence of- CHAS. J. WRIGHT, HELEN NUFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

